Lionel Messi in a dinner jacket

Because I have a handful of summer weddings pencilled into this year’s diary I’m, perhaps inevitably, wondering whether I have an excuse to order a new suit, or two.

Top of my wish list is a new dinner jacket, because the one I usually wear – which I inherited from my grandfather - is in a very heavy cloth and is double breasted, making it unsuitable for a July wedding.

The good news is that I’ve got some lightweight fabric I’m happy with and that my tailor will do a great job. The bad news is that I’m struggling to settle on the form. I favour double-breasted, but I’ve already got one DB DJ and it’s warmer than single-breasted, which leaves me facing a choice between notch lapels and peak lapels.

I’m pretty set on peak lapels, even though I was temporarily distracted by this impressive shot of Lionel Messi, taken last night in Zurich at the inaugural FIFA Ballon d’Or awards, in a Dolce & Gabbana shawl collar smoking jacket. On reflection I’ll save the shawl collar for a double-breasted smoking jacket and stick with peak lapels for the dinner jacket.

What Is The Future Of The Death Penalty?

After a sickening succession of botched lethal injections, the US’s death-penalty states are seeking new ways to execute condemned convicts – with competing factions rallying around firing squads, electrocution and gassing. As arguments rage, the questions are stark: will the death penalty itself finally be killed off or – far more likely – will the US authorities learn to become a more ruthlessly efficient killing machine?

The Cult Of The Leica Camera

As the German brand turns 100, Simon Garfield uncovers how the company has stood the test of time against its mega-giant rivals. Which may in fact be due to its tiny, yet remarkably distinctive, little red dot

How Did Bottled Water Become A Global Industry?

You can get it for free from any tap and yet bottled mineral water sustains a global industry worth billions. How did this happen? Our teetotal editor-at-large goes straight to the source (not the sauce), in Buxton, Derbyshire

Inside The World Porridge Making Championships

As increasing numbers of British men become keen amateur chefs, so cooking begins to resemble competitive sport. at The World Porridge Making Championships in Scotland, Esquire’s Tim Lewis tests his own recipe against oatmeal obsessives from around the world. all hoping to take home the golden spurtle, and confirmation that they really are as good as the pros.

How They Created The DeLorean

What connects Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, the infamous hunger striker Bobby Sands with one of the worlds most iconic and celebrated film franchises of all time? None other than the classic DeLorean DMC-12 car of course.

What Is The Future Of The Death Penalty?

After a sickening succession of botched lethal injections, the US’s death-penalty states are seeking new ways to execute condemned convicts – with competing factions rallying around firing squads, electrocution and gassing. As arguments rage, the questions are stark: will the death penalty itself finally be killed off or – far more likely – will the US authorities learn to become a more ruthlessly efficient killing machine?